COP28 announcement supports global climate goals
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – December 5, 2023 – Westinghouse Electric Company today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) to explore the deployment of the eVinci™ microreactor in the United Arab Emirates. The signing of the MoU took place at COP28 in Dubai in recognition of the role nuclear energy will play in accelerating global decarbonisation.
Westinghouse Chairman and CEO Patrick Fragman (left) with His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, President and CEO of ENEC, at the signing ceremony at COP28 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The MoU will facilitate joint exploration of technical and commercial deployment in the Emirates and abroad. The new partnership will leverage Westinghouse's extensive experience in the design and implementation of new nuclear technology and proven delivery of ENEC projects, as well as identifying potential nuclear quality supplier partners in the UAE.
“Our latest collaboration with Westinghouse takes this vision of rapid decarbonization one step further, allowing us to evaluate the potential positive impact of eVinci microreactors in accelerating global transitions to clean energy. “Now more than ever we need quick action and reliable solutions to ensure energy security, while sustainably powering our homes, businesses, cities and hard-to-reduce sectors,” said His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Director General and CEO of ENEC.
“We are very excited to partner with ENEC once again and with this innovative technology that can be truly transformative for the UAE,” said Patrick Fragman, president and CEO of Westinghouse. "Our eVinci microreactor is an innovative nuclear battery that can deliver decarbonization and secure power exactly where it is needed for a wide range of customers and applications."
The agreement is made possible by the UAE-US Partnership. to Accelerate Clean Energy, known as PACE, which launched in November 2022 and is expected to mobilize $100 billion in clean energy projects, including nuclear power, by 2035.
Last week, the Saskatchewan Research Council announced a funding award to begin development of the first eVinci microreactor in Canada. Westinghouse recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to plan the siting of the eVinci nuclear test reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory. The test reactor, a one-fifth scale representation of an actual eVinci microreactor, will allow the technology to be finalized, tested, and licensed. Last year, the Canadian government awarded Westinghouse a grant from its Strategic Innovation Fund to promote development of the technology.
He eVinci Microreactor builds on decades of Westinghouse innovation to bring carbon-free, secure and scalable energy wherever it is needed for a variety of applications, including electricity and heating for remote communities, universities, mining operations, industrial centers, data centers and defense facilities. and soon the lunar surface and beyond. The eVinci microreactor has very few moving parts and essentially functions as a battery, providing versatility for power systems ranging from several kilowatts to 5 megawatts of electricity, delivered 24/7 for more than eight years without refueling. It can also produce high-temperature heat suitable for industrial applications, including the production of alternative fuels such as hydrogen, and has the flexibility to balance renewable production. The technology is 100 percent factory built and assembled before being shipped in a container to any location.
